Solar Power Attic Fan

If You've Got Sun, Get a Solar Attic Vent.

A Solar Power Attic Fan is NOT for everyone but if your circumstances allow for its use you'll love the simplicity of solar energy. Here's how to determine if Solar Ventilation is the right choice for YOU.

The condition of your attic air affects the life of your roof, the health of your family and the overall comfort of your home.

Circulating attic air is essential for your home's long term integrity and installing a solar vent is a simple and effective way to keep the roof-over-your-head... over your head.

Solar powered vents breathe heated and humidified air out of the attic and keep attic air dry and cool, thus making it easier - and less expensive - to stabilize indoor temperatures.

The buffer created by a well ventilated attic

Solar Attic Fans are an easy way to create a protective buffer by venting heat and humidity from your attic, but before you buy anything you should determine if you even need more attic ventilation and whether a solar power attic fan is the right choice for you.

Telltale Signs That Your Attic Needs Ventilation

Alert
If you've noticed your energy bills increasing dramatically during the summer months, or that breathing has become more difficult, it may be time to investigate the attic or crawlspace in your home.
Without proper ventilation, the attic will trap heat during the summer months, keeping your house hot - which increases air conditioning costs.
During the winter, trapped heat will melt the snow off the roof too quickly, which then freezes, causing dangerous ice to form on the eaves.
And then there's humidity which, left unvented, creates an opportune environment in which molds thrive and wood structures rot and degenerate.


• Damp or Ice Encrusted Attic Insulation - Wet or icy insulation is usually caused by insufficient ventilation. Excessive heat and humidity cause the freeze-melt cycle. During the melt cycle, the heat inside the attic melts ice and snow which then seeps into the insulation which, in turn makes your insulation useless is quite ineffective at insulating and result from humidity and heat build up.
• Hot Upstairs Rooms - Does your air conditioner work overtime trying to maintain a room temperature you can live - and sleep- in? Attic heat is very likely the culprit.
• Rusty Nail Points and Heads - Rust on the tips of exposed nails are a sign that a humidity/freezing/ thawing cycle takes place.
• Oozing Sap Droplets - Beads of sap oozing out of the attic 2X4's or 2X6's are an indication that the temperature is soaring during hot weather.
• Difficulty Breathing - Respiratory problems among members of your family can be a result of high humidity and toxic mold buildup.
• Mold Growth - Evidence of mold in the attic is a health risk that needs to be addressed ASAP.
• Giant Icicles - Those icicles dangling from the eaves may be trying to tell you something. Investigate the attic for signs of inadequate ventilation.
• Wood Rot - Deterioration of the framing and deck lumber results from excessive moisture and inadequate ventilation.

If you're still not sure, have your attic or crawlspace examined by a professional.

The Role That Heat Plays

A hot attic means a hot house.

Controlling the temperature in the attic makes it much easier to control the temperature in the house, especially on the upper floor - good news for you, because you'll spend a lot less money cooling your house and you'll sleep a lot better in a bedroom that cools down at night.

The Role That Humidity Plays

Air that becomes trapped in the attic, cools and mixes with hot humid air created from activities such as showering, laundering and cooking.

The warm humidified air moves up into the attic space creating a perfect breeding ground for mold. Mold can cause serious respiratory and other health issues as well as cause structural decay when it accumulates on wooden roof and floor supports.

Once any mold has been removed, adding more ventilation will discourage it from re-appearing.

Solar Power Attic Fan Facts

Solar Attic Vents are NOT for everyone but they are definitely a big plus if your location provides the necessary components.

• Need Sun - I'm sure I didn't have to mention this, but, we'll cover all the bases. Solar is a super versatile energy but there are just some things it can't do. The obvious biggie is that it can't function without a fairly steady supply of sunlight. Most solar attic vents will continue to function with no sun for 48 hours or so but not in conditions where there's no sun - and no hope of sun - for days or weeks on end.
• Sizing the Solar Vent - The volume of air you intend to circulate will determine the size of solar attic fan you'll need. You also need to calculate how much sun will strike the panel. Under ideal conditions the panel will be exposed to at least 5 hours of sun per day.
  
  One size does not fit all but if there is one best pick it would have to be the 20-watt Solar Attic Fan by Natural Light. This company makes a sturdy product of METAL that is an easy install project for even the most handy-challenged.
• Roof Orientation - Your roof MUST be oriented in the proper direction (true South in the Northern hemisphere and true North in the Southern hemisphere) to collect adequate sunlight to keep the solar attic vent functioning. *Note - Removable solar panels that can be placed somewhere other than where the fan allows more flexibility on installation - As long as the panel is facing South...
  
  If you can't decide whether you need the bigger or smaller model - choose the bigger one.
• Cant (angle) The panel must be at an appropriate angle depending on your latitude to catch the most sun. In general a panel will function best when at an angle that equals your latitude plus or minus 15 degrees. (plus 15 degrees in the winter and minus 15 degrees in the summer) Natural Light Panels can be adjusted to attain the highest results as the sun makes its seasonal alterations. Here's an in-depth article to help with your calculations
• Extra Ventilation - If you already have a conventional attic fan that doesn't keep up - rather than replacing the existing fan, add a solar attic vent to the south aspect of the roof and let the conventional fan take over where the solar fan leaves off (late afternoon, cloudy days, night).
• No Operating Cost - Yes, you can get conventional attic fans for cheaper but... you will never stop paying the electric company for operation of the thing. When you're comparing the costs of a solar vs conventional unit the cost-of-operation must be calculated as part of the cost in order to get a fair estimation.

When is A Solar Power Attic Fan the Right Choice?

The three most important considerations when deciding if solar is the way for you to go are:

• Orientation - Panel placement is the most important part of the installation. It's necessary to locate the panel for the solar power attic fan in the area of optimum sun exposure AND at an angle that collects the most direct sunlight. The angle will change seasonally and the panel should be directed for the season you most need the attic vent.
• Size - Choosing the right size for the amount of air you want to move is essential for adequately ventilating your space. Solar powered devices are not as aggressive as conventional devices, they are more passive in the way they get the job done... but they DO get the job done.
  
  If you're deciding between 2 sizes - get the bigger one.
• Insolation - How much sun can you count on receiving in your geographical location? Phoenix is good; Anchorage... not so much.
  
  Although latitude plays a role you can see by the map below that there's more to the equation - it's more about insolation, which is a measure of solar intensity that strikes a given area.
  
  Phoenix Arizona (5.38 annual avg.) and Birmingham Alabama (4.34 annual avg.) are very close in latitude yet there's a big difference in their insolation values. Insolation can be affected by heavy forestation, deep valleys or locations where rain and fog block most of the solar rays before they reach your panel.

  Have a look at the map below for insolation levels in the USA - the darker the color the higher the insolation in that area.

Solar Insolation Values for the USA

Solar Power Attic Fan Installation

Installation is a simple DIY project. Because there's no wiring it's just a matter of cutting the hole and sliding the fan in place. Once the solar panel is adjusted and the appropriate measures are taken to seal the area surrounding the fan... the family can start basking in your temperate living area.

Think of the attic air space as a buffer between the ever changing outdoor climate and the relatively constant climate you want to maintain indoors.

Managing the temperature and humidity in that buffer area makes it easier to keep your living space comfortable.

Air conditioning costs decline and the integrity of your home is sound all of which save you money and peace of mind

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